The criminal resurgence -- pushed by poverty and political chaos -- has again made Bangladesh's Sundarbans forest a dangerous and potentially costly place to operate.

Mandal, a 47-year-old crab hunter, was kidnapped and held captive for nearly a month before being released for a 40,000 taka ($370) ransom.

"My family cried hard," said Mandal, who asked to be identified by his first name for fear of reprisals, as he recalled his capture.

He and several other fishermen were sleeping on their boat when a gang stormed aboard, despite their employer having already paid extortion money to an armed group to protect them.

The attackers dragged the men onto another vessel and a gunfight erupted between the kidnappers and the fishermen's protectors.

"At one point the two groups started exchanging fire like rain. I was hanging from the branch of a tree while others rushed into the jungle," he said.

- Abundant resource -

Investigative reporter Mohsin Ul Hakim, who helped facilitate the surrender of hundreds of pirates between 2016 and 2018, said many gangs operate as enforcers on the Sundarbans' waterways.

"They (pirates) are hirelings of some big fish traders who through their bully boys keep control over the water mass of the Sundarbans," Hakim told AFP.

Some pirates are linked to arms traffickers or are simply criminals. Young men, often driven by poverty and debts, join the bands to make quick money.

"In many cases they get trapped and can never return home," Hakim said.

The Sundarbans' waters yield close to 29,000 tonnes of fish annually.

Control of the abundant resource has long fuelled violence.

A government anti?piracy drive in 2009 lasted six years and saw several extrajudicial killings.

Though hundreds eventually surrendered, law enforcement could never fully dismantle the networks.

Around a dozen groups are active again, according to security agencies.

A fisherman, requesting anonymity, said some gangs resurfaced after taking advantage of the political chaos sparked by the 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina's government.

"All of a sudden the entire Sundarbans was reclaimed by different groups," he said. "They have hiked the ransom -- sometimes up to 100,000 taka per fisherman."

- Treacherous -

Bangladesh Coast Guard spokesman Lt Commander Shamsul Arefin said units have been conducting regular operations and seizing dozens of weapons -- including German-made arms.

"We have conducted some 100 raids, detained 56 pirates, seized 78 arms and other ammunition including cartridges, air guns and locally made firearms," he told AFP, characterising recent attacks as isolated incidents.

But forest workers say the impact of the raids has been limited.

Pirates familiar with the terrain easily slip into the mangroves, where even trained personnel struggle to navigate the treacherous, root?choked forest floor.

Honey collectors, who entered the forest earlier this month with official permits, had to obtain permission from pirates too.

"We paid more than $1,000 per boat to stay safe and promised to give 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) of honey (to the pirates)," one collector said.

Extortion money is often transferred through mobile apps, which can be traced but is seldom done in practice.

Forest officials warn that unchecked piracy threatens not only human lives but also conservation efforts.

Armed gangs scare away deer -- the main prey of the forest's tigers -- and destabilise the fragile ecosystem, said Imran Ahmed, a regional conservator of forests.

"Some bands maintain international networks and regularly kill deer. At times, they also kill tigers," he told AFP. "Piracy is impacting the ecological balance of the Sundarbans."